Published: November 4, 2016 |

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Canadian aboriginal and environmental groups have filed lawsuits against the country’s government to withdraw the approval for a $27bn liquefied natural gas (LNG) project to be developed by Malaysia’s Petronas.

The group claims that the project will have a negative impact on the environment and wipe out salmon habitat.

The project, which is proposed to come up in British Columbia, received approval from the government of Canada in September.

Canada approved the project with 190 conditions, even as many raised concerns that it would lead to destruction of salmon habitat and release of large amounts of green houses gases.

The group said that lawsuits are aimed at stopping construction of a “dangerous and ill-­conceived” LNG project at the mouth of the Skeena River.

“Despite repeated requests, the federal government has failed to properly consult with our people, ” said Gitanyow aboriginal community Chief Negotiator Glen Williams.

The Canadian government said it will stand by the decision which was made after a three-year evaluation , Reuters reported.

“This project underwent a three-year rigorous and thorough science-based process that evaluated and incorporated mitigation measures that will minimize the environmental impacts,” said Canada’s Environment Minister Catherine McKenna spokeswoman Caitlin Workman.

SkeenaWild, an environmental group filing one of the lawsuits, said that there are flaws in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency’s characterization of the project’s impacts.

The Petronas-led project is proposed to be built in the district of Port Edward, British Columbia, about 1,600 km (1,000 miles) northwest of Vancouver.

The facility is expected to export about 12 million tonnes of LNG to consumers in Asia annually.

Source: (October 28, 2016) Energy Business Review

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